Brake-beam



(No Model.)

T. H. SIMPSON..

BRAKE BEAM.

No. 503,441. Patented Aug. 15,1893.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS H. SIMPSON, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

BRAKE-BEAM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 503,441, dated August 15, 1893.

7 Application filed May 14, 1892. Serial No. 432,965- (No model.)

To all whom it 11mg concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS H. SIMPSON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Detroit, county of Wayne, and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Brake-Beams, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and thebest mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail, one mechanical form embodying my invention; such detail construction being but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In such annexed drawingsz Figure I represents a top plan view of my improved brake-beam; Fig. II, alongitudinal horizontal section of the same, and Fig. III, an enlarged transverse vertical section on the line III III, Figs. I and II.

In the drawings, the letter A indicates the arched compression member of the trussed brake beam, and said member is preferably tubular and curved in the arc of a circle. The ends of the compression member are cut off at right angles and find seats in sockets,

b, formed in brake'headaB, secured upon the ends of the compression members. The sockets, b, are formed with seats, I), in their innor ends and said seats are inclined so as to be in planes, radial to the arc of the compression member or at right angles to the axial line of the latter at its ends. A straight tension member or truss-rod, is inserted through holes, 12 in the inner sides of the sockets, through holes, a, in the inner side of the compression member, through the open ends of said member, and through holes, 19 in the outer sides of the brake heads, where the ends of the tension members are secured by nuts, 0, and preferably by being riveted, as shown at c. The tension member is perfectly straight and forms the chord to the segment orarc described by the compression mem her. A strut, D, has atubular head, d, which fits upon the middle of the compression member, and has atransverse bore, d, through its opposite end, through which the tension member passes. Two inclined sockets, (1*, are

formed at both sides of the strut, openinginto the transverse bore, (1', and two brace rods,E E, which have tubular heads, E, fitting upon the compression member at even distances from the middle, have their tenons, e, fitted in said sockets so as to bear against the tension members. The tenons of the brace rod are preferably secured in the sockets by rivets or pins, (1 Awheel guard clip, F, is formed with an oblique sleeve, F, which fits upon the compression member and with a transverse sleeve f, through which the tension member passes. An eye, f, is preferably formed upon the upper side of the clip and serves for the attachment of the safety chain or safety link which forms an auxiliary support for the brake beam from the truck, and the under side of the clip has a pair of curved clamping jaws, f extending into apair of straight lips, f through which passes a bolt, f having a clamping nut, f. The wheel guard finger, F is secured in said jaws by means of said bolt and nut.

In assembling the parts of the brake-beam, the tube,which originally is straight and with its ends cut oif at right angles,is curved in the arc of a circle, to form the compression member; thetubular heads of the strut and the brace rods are then slipped upon said tube; the oblique sleeve of the wheel guard clips are then slipped upon the tube, Whereupon the brake heads are placed upon the ends. The tenons of the brace rods are socured in their sockets upon the strut and the tension member is finally passed through the brake head, through the transverse sleeve of the guard clip, through the transverse bore of the strut, through the transverse sleeve of the other guard clip and through the other brake head, whereupon the ends of the rod are secured.

By forming the seats in the sockets of the brake-heads in planes which are radial to the arc of the compression member, the ends of the tube forming said member maybe out off square and will always find perfect and true seats in the sockets. The brake-heads will be prevented from turning upon the ends of the brake beam on account of the obliquity of their sockets, and on account of the tension member passing through the holes in their inner sides, and the heads will be tightly secured against falling off from the beam by the nuts and by the riveting of the ends of the tension member. The strut, which preferably has a slot or oblique lips for pivoting the brake lever, serves to bring the strain of the latter upon the arched compression member and to distribute the flattening tendency of the latter under strain, theoblique brace rods aiding in this distribution by bringing the flattening strain of the compression member from opposite directions uponthe strut. The wheel guard clip will be completely secured upon the brake beam,without any additional fastening devices, on account of the angle of the holes, through which the compression member and tension member'pass, preventing any motion of the clip after the beam is assembled. The guard fingers may be removed and replaced whenever worn or broken.

Although I prefer to make the strut and brace rods separate, they may be cast or otherwise formed in one integral piece. The form described. and illustrated is, however, preferable on account of its readier application to the structure.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed for the mode herein explained. Change may therefore be made as regards the mechanism herein set forth provided the principles of construction respectively set forth in the following claims are employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention 1. In a trussed brake beam, the combination of a compression member curved in the 'arc of a circie and having its ends cutoff square to its axial line, brake heads having oblique sockets formed with seats for the ends of said compression member in planes radial to the arcof said member, and a straight tension member, substantially as set forth.

2. In a trussed brake-beam, the combination of a compression member curved in the arc of a circle and having its ends cutoff square to its axial line and formed with holes in its concave side near its ends, brake heads formed with oblique sockets having seats for the ends of the compression member in planes radial to the arc of said member and having holes in the inner sides of the sockets and in the outer sides of the heads, and a straight tension member having its ends passed through the holes in the sockets, through the holes in the compression member, through the ends of the compression member, and through the outer sides of the heads, and secured, there, substantially as set forth.

Ina trnssed brake beam, the combination of an arched tubular compression member having holes in its concave side near its ends, brake heads having sockets for the ends of the compression member formed with reg istering holes and with holes in their outer sides, and a straight'ten'sion member having its ends inserted through two registering holes in the ends of the tube and in the sockets, through the endsof the tube and through the outer sides of the heads and secured there, substantially as set forth.

4. In a trussed brake beam, the combination with an arched compression member and a straight tension member, of a strut having a tubular head for the middle of the compression member and a transverse bore for the tension member, and oblique brace rods having tubular heads for the compression member and united to the strut at the tension member, substantially as set forth.

5. In a trussed brake beam, the combination with an arched compression member and a straight tension member, of a strut having a tubular head for the middle of the compression member and a transverse bore for the tension member and having oblique sockets openinginto said bore, and oblique brace bars having tubular heads for the tension member and having their ends secured in the oblique sockets and abutting against the tension member, substantially as set forth.

6. In a trussed brake beam, the combination with a compression member and a tension member, of a wheel guard clip having holes at an angle to each other for the insertion of said members, substantially as set forth.

7. In a trussed brake beam, the combination with a compressionwmember and a tension member, of wheel guard clips each having an oblique hole for the arched chamber and a transverse hole for the straight member, substantially as set forth.

8. In a trussed brake beam, the combination with an arched compression member and a straight tension member, of wheel guard clips each having an oblique sleeve for the arched compression member and a transverse sleeve for the straight tension member, substantially as set forth.

9. In a brake beam, the combination of an arched compression member, a straight tension member, wheel guard clips having oblique sleeves for the compression members and transverse sleeves for the tension member provided with clamping jaws and guard fingers removably secured in said jaws, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing to be my invention I have hereunto set my hand this 3d day of May, A. D. 1892.

THOMAS II. SIMPSON.

WVitnesses:

HENRY O. HART, CHRISTINE MCDONALD.

IOC

Correciio It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 503,441, granted August 15, 1893,

upon the application of Thomas H. Simpson, of Detroit,

in Brake-Beams,

ing correction, viz: In line 100, page 2, the word chamber that the mid Letters Patent shoul may conform to the record of the Michigan, for an improvement in error appears in the printed specification requiring the follow should read member; and d be read with this correction therein that the some case in the Iatent Office.

Signed, oountersigued, and sealed this 22(l1hiy ofAuguslz, A. D. 1893.

Gountersigned:

S. T. FISHER,

JNO. M. REYNOLDS, Assistant Secretary of the Interior.

Acting Ommniseioner of Patents. 

